You're far too generous. Populist environmentalists, especially the global warming kind, never talk except in terms of taking control of other people's lives through policy. There's never any discussion about persuasion or mediating factors or further learning or anything but command and control.

Lomborg convincingly argues that for the time being, global warming has been a net benefit to humanity. Much later in the century, it will be a net harm. But for now, anyone seriously concerned with people or our carbon cousins in the animal kingdom has better things to worry about than global warming.

Those most heartbroken to hear this had imagined themselves chairing some sort of enforcement commission...

Suggesting that someone, even oneself is "better" for shopping at Whole Foods is certainly ludicrous. It's not even remotely justified, considering that Publix, in the Southeast, cells more organic produce than Whole Foods ever thought of moving.

But shopping at Publix isn't hip.

South Park did an episode on this phenomenon (Smug Alert) 5 years ago.

Well, correlation doesn't equal causation, though. Maybe doing something "green" causes to you feel justified in being a selfish asshole, but maybe selfish assholes are more likely to do "green" stuff in the first place. How did they control for the study? What were the group sizes? I have too many questions.

It all goes to my contention that leftism (not liberalism, leftism; there's a difference) is simply narcissism cast into the form of politics.

"Those most heartbroken to hear this had imagined themselves chairing some sort of enforcement commission..."

Yep. That or making billions of dollars off of government-created green markets, as Al Gore did.

Chris,
When I saw the headline I immediately thought of South Park. They were eight years ahead of the times.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s10e02-smug-alert

America’s Angriest Store: How Whole Foods Attracts Complete Shitheads.

https://medium.com/race-class/d778c31aa9be

Funny you mention Whole Foods. It's impossible to work at Whole Foods and not come to the conclusion that progressive socially conscious people are generally self centered assholes.

Interesting, I really don't like Whole Foods, but go there a couple times a month for certain items. But all the folks, customers and employees alike, seem fine. Perhaps because my neighborhood is just Not Cool, and all the cool/angry people are shopping in the cool part of town?

"...entitled to Go Asshole on the rest of us."

A fine turn of phrase to capture the essence of progressivist presumption.

I like how it dispenses with the pretense of doing it "for the children", and the likes of "for your safety and ours" (a euphemism employed by SWAT terror squads).

The license to wreak havoc while being richly rewarded may be the Obama Era's enduring cultural legacy, and a milestone in the now baked-in decline and fall of the American Republic.

Aside: I'm reminded of how someone once summarized the arrogance of a group of German tourists riding BMWs: "We are on motorcycles, so we can treat you like shit".

You can say the same about just about any single-issue zealot, on either side of politics. Or religion, for that matter.

"or making billions of dollars off of government-created green markets, as Al Gore did."

Goddamned capitalist bastard. I hate him so much.

Gog, real capitalists don't need government to grease the skids first.

The Prius isn't called the Pious for nothing ;-)

Interesting, I wonder how it compares to other good deeds and charitable giving.

Nicole, I don't know about that, but I do know there's a huge cultural emphasis on trying to gain moral brownie points through trivial actions. "I forwarded an email / shared a Facebook post? Damn, I'm a saint!" To my mind, a lot of this started with Live Aid, where people were encouraged to believe that they were Saving The Planet by watching a free concert. Yes, you were supposed to be encouraged to donate money, but how many did? And then we had Live 8, which abandoned even the pretense of fundraising.